THE  NATIVE  VEGETATION  AND  CROPS  OF  THE 
COLORADO  DELTA  IN  THE  SALTON  BASIN. 


(Supplement  to  Bulletin  No.  140.) 


By  Joseph  Burtt  Davy. 


The  following  general  observations  were  made  on  a  hasty  trip  into 
the  Colorado  Desert  between  March  25  and  April  2  of  this  year: 

The  region  covers  such  a  vast  area  that  it  was  impossible  to  do  any- 
thing in  the  way  of  a  detailed  study  of  its  vegetation  in  a  few  days,  as 
almost  the  whole  time  was  occupied  in  travelling  from  point  to  point. 

The  flora  is  a  limited  one,  very  monotonous  in  character,  tracts 
many  miles  in  extent  being  covered  by  an  almost  uniform  vegeta- 
tion, of  but  few  species  and  varying  slightly  in  individual  composi- 
tion over  large  areas,  according  to  the  physical  or  chemical  nature 
of  the  soil.  On  this  account  the  native  vegetation  affords  an  excellent 
guide  to  the  general  condition  of  the  land. 

PHYSICAL   CONDITION    OF   THE    SOIL. 

Although  there  is  a  very  marked  difference  between  the  vegetation 
of  the  sandy  mesa  and  old  beach  lands  and  that  of  the  alluvial  plain, 
the  texture  of  the  soil  on  the  plain  itself  has  practically  no  effect  on 
the  vegetation.  The  same  plants  are  found  alike  on  the  heavy 
"Imperial  Clay"  and  on  the  Dune  Sand,  as  well  as  on  all  the  inter- 
mediate soils,  with  but  few  and  unimportant  exceptions.  This  fact  is, 
however,  of  minor  practical  importance  in  determining  the  nature  of 
the  soil,  because  the  texture  of  the  surface  soil  is  so  clearly  evident 
from  its  appearance  to  the  sight  and  touch. 

The  relative  humidity  of  the  soil  is  much  more  clearly  indicated, 
however.  When  the  water-table  is  within  about  twenty  feet  of  the 
surface,  Arrowweed  (Phichea  sericea)  grows  luxuriantly,  forming 
dense  groves  six  to  ten  feet  high. 

Wherever  salt-springs  occur,  a  dense  growth  of  Salt-grass  (Dis- 
tichlis  spicata)  is  found,  and  it  is  usually  accompanied  by  luxuriant 
growths  of  Mesquit  (Prosopis  juliflora) ,  Arrowweed  (Pluchea  sericea) , 
and  the  Washington  palm  (Washingtonia  filifera) ,  although  the  latter 
is  found  nowhere  on  the  plain,  (except  under  cultivation)  but  only 
above  the  old  beach  line.  The  Mesquit  is  evidently  dependent,  in 
this  region,  upon  the  proximity  of  the  ground- water,  or  upon  period- 
ical flooding.  Although  it  is  an  exceedingly  hardy  tree,  capable  of 
withstanding  adverse  conditions  inimical  to  the  growth  of  the  few 
other  trees  found  in  the  region,  it  frequently  happens  that  on  areas 


once  covered  with  a  growth  of  large  Mesquit,  only  dead  trees  now 
remain,  apparently  indicating  the  lowering  of  the  water-table.  The 
river  beds  of  both  the  Salton  and  New  rivers  are  covered  with  a 
dense  growth  of  vigorous  Mesquit,  and  the  latter  also  contains 
large  Cotton  woods  (Populus)  and  Willows  (Salix),  which  gradually 
disappear  at  the  lower  end,  or  are  represented  by  dead  trees,  indicat- 
ing that  the  ground- water  is  no  longer  within  reach. 

Wild  Heliotrope  (Heliotropium  curassavicum,  L.),  locally  and 
most  inappropriately  called  "Chinese  Pusley,"  makes  a  rank  and 
luxuriant  growth  on  the  banks  of  canals  and  ditches  where  there  is  a 
perceptible  efflorescence  of  salts.  It  does  not  occur  except  where  the 
soil  is  moist. 

Salt-grass,  Arrow7weed,  and  Mesquit  may  therefore  be  taken  as 
good  indications  of  the  proximity  of  the  ground- water;  Salt-grass 
indicating  surface  moisture,  ArrowwTeed  indicating  water  anywhere 
from  the  surface  to  twenty  feet,  and  Mesquit  indicating  water  from 
twenty  feet  down  to  an,  at  present,  unknown  depth.  It  would  be  of 
considerable  interest,  and  perhaps  of  some  practical  value,  to  find  out 
exactly  how  far  the  Mesquit  can  penetrate  in  search  of  ground- water. 
This  could  probably  be  determined  with  very  close  accuracy,  as  it 
appears  that  the  lowering  of  the  water-table  below  an,  at  present, 
uncertain  point,  results  in  the  death  of  the  trees  over  large  areas. 

CHEMICAL    CONDITION    OF   THE    SOIL. 

The  chemical  condition  of  the  soil  has  a  much  more  marked 
influence  than  the  physical  on  the  vegetation.  This  is  clearly  demon- 
strated by  the  distribution  of  the  various  "  alkali  weeds'7  which  occur 
in  equal  abundance  and  luxuriance  on  all  soils  in  which  alkali  occurs, 
from  the  light  "blow-away"  dune  sands  up  to  the  heaviest  clays. 

THE    CREOSOTE    LANDS. 

The  best  soils  of  the  region  from  the  culture  stand  point,  i.  e., 
those  freest  from  alkali  and  of  a  loamy  texture — are  characterized 
by  a  luxuriant  growth  of  the  bush  locally  called  "Greasewood,"  but 
better  known  as  Creosote  bush  (Larrea  tridentata) .  The  use  of  the 
name  "  Greasewood"  should  be  dropped  in  connection  wTith  this  plant, 
as  it  is  more  generally  and  more  correctly  used  to  designate  one  of 
the  most  alkali-indicative  plants  of  Utah,  Nevada  and  Northeastern 
California  (Sarcobatus  vermiculatus) ,  which  is  not  found  in  the 
Salton  Basin.  The  name  "Creosote-bush"  is  thoroughly  distinctive, 
and  will  not  lead  to  the  supposition  that  this  shrub  indicates  the 
presence  of  alkali,  which  is  not  the  case.  As  a  rule,  the  Creosote- 
bush  prefers  a  light,  sandy  or  gravelly  soil,  well- drained  and  almost 
free  from  alkali;   it  is  not  an  alkali  plant,  and  usually  grows  well 


above  the  alkali  line,  but  at  its  lower  limit  a  few  scattered  speci- 
mens are  often  found,  in  the  salt- sage  belts,  in  a  mixture  of 
gravel  and  clay,  with  some  alkali.  Mr.  Snow  found  "a  few  scat- 
tering live  bushes77  growing  on  soil  containing  .45  %  of  salts,  or 
108,000  lbs.  per  acre,  in  6  ft.;  it  rarely  occurs  in  such  places,  how- 
ever, and  then  only  sparingly  and  in  stunted  form.  Its  presence 
under  such  adverse  conditions  may  perhaps  be  traceable  to  the  seepage 
or  rise  of  alkali  into  that  spot  after  the  bushes  had  become  established. 
This  theory  finds  partial  confirmation  in  the  occasional  occurrence  of 
small  alkali  spots  in  the  heart  of  a  large  area  of  excellent  loamy  land, 
such  spots  being  indicated  by  the  presence  of  "alkali  weeds,"  partic- 
ularly Saltwort  (Suceda),  Hop-sage  (Atriplex  canescens)  and  Scrub 
Salt-sage  (Atriplex  sp.),  associated  with  the  Creosote-bush. 

Wherever  Creosote-bush  occurs  abundantly  and  luxuriantly  it  is 
probable  that  alfalfa  and  many  other  crops  can  be  raised  satisfactorily. 
Wherever  it  occurs  mixed  with  alkali  weeds  greater  care  must  be 
exercised  in  the  manipulation  of  the  soil,  either  on  account  of  lesser 
permeability  of  the  irrigation  water  or  the  presence  of  larger  amounts 
of  alkali. 

The  entire  absence  of,  or  poor  growth  of,  Creosote-bush  on  lands 
producing  other  vegetation,  generally  speaking  (and  with  a  few 
exceptions  doubtless),  indicates  that  the  soil  is  compact,  clayey,  and 
hard  to  work,  and  usually  contains  from  .6  to  over  1%  of  salts. 
Such  soils  will  probably  require  to  be  leached  and  possibly  to  be  tile- 
drained  in  order  to  make  them  respond  to  cultivation. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  the  tracts  absolutely  free  from  all 
vegetation,  which  are  found  in  some  sections  on  the  heavy  clay  lands, 
owe  their  lack  of  vegetation  to  the  standing  of  water  on  the  surface 
for  a  long  period;  that  they  are,  in  fact,  dry  lakes,  "sinks,"  or 
evaporation  basins,  such  as  are  commonly  met  with  in  all  desert  areas. 
Without  having  been  able  to  study  the  contours  of  these  barren  areas, 
it  is  impossible  to  state  definitely  that  this  is  the  case,  but  the  explan- 
ation seems  a  probable  one.  If  this  view  is  correct,  then  it  will 
follow  that  the  entire  absence  of  all  vegetation  from  an  area  does  not 
necessarily  mean  either  that  the  soil  is  too  heavy  or  that  it  is  too 
strongly  charged  with  salts  for  vegetation  to  flourish,  but  that  the 
long  continued  standing  of  the  water  has  prevented  the  germination  of 
seeds.  Mere  seasonal  flooding  has  an  entirely  opposite  effect,  moist- 
ening the  soil  for  some  depth,  but  drying  off  the  surface  in  time  to 
allow  seeds  to  germinate. 

THE    SALT- SAGE    LANDS. 

The  presence  of  the  Salt-sages  (shrubby  species  of  Atriplex), 
better  known,  but  erroneously,  as  "Sage-brush,"  is  invariably  indica- 


tive  of  the  presence  of  alkali  in  varying  amounts.  The  Salt-sages 
include  the  Hop-sage  or  Shad-scale  and  several  other  species.  Where 
they  grow  in  company  with  Creosote-bush  there  is  less  alkali  than 
where  they  grow  by  themselves,  but  in  almost  all  cases  where  they 
grow  alone  there  appears  to  be  from  .4  to  over  1.%  of  alkali  salts. 
In  such  soils  great  care  will  have  to  be  exercised  not  to  allow  an 
accumulation  of  salts  at  the  surface. 

THE    SALTWORT    LANDS. 

The  worst  lands  in  the  whole  region,  as  regards  presence  of  alkali, 
are  indicated  by  the  growth  of  three  kinds  of  "alkali  weeds,"  each 
kind  apparently  indicating  different  degree  or  kind  of  salt  impregnation. 

Salt- wort  {Sweda)  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  of  these  three,  and 
is  the  principal  alkali  indicator  of  the  whole  region.  The  amount  of 
alkali  required  by  this  plant  is  considerable,  ranging  somewhere 
between  .4  and  over  1.  % ,  but  its  exact  limits  have  not  yet  been  deter- 
mined. It  appears  to  require  much  more  salt  than  the  salt-sages  do, 
and  though  they  often  grow  in  company  with  each  other,  it  may  be 
considered  that  where  salt- wort  or  "alkali  weed"  grows  alone,  in 
abundance  and  luxuriance,  there  is  more  alkali  than  where  the  salt- 
sages  or  "Sage-brush"  grows  alone. 

Rabbit-brush  (Bigelovia  veneta)  is  not  generally  distributed — in 
fact  it  is  a  rare  plant  in  the  region,  and  appears  to  grow  only  where 
the  salts  are  excessively  strong. 

Kern  Greasewood  (AUenrolfea  occidentalis)  is  equally  scarce  in  the 
vicinity  of  Imperial.  It  usually  appears  to  be  indicative  of  excessively 
strong  salts  and  also  of  the  presence  of  black  alkali. 

The  soils  on  which  the  three  last-named  plants  occur  contain  so 
much  alkali  that  only  alkali-resistant  crops  should  be  attempted  there. 
Mr.  Rockwood  reports  that  excellent  alfalfa  is  raised  on  Saltwort 
lands  at  Yuma,  but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  soils  at  Yuma 
are  general^  much  more  easily  leached  of  their  salts  than  are  most  of 
the  Saltwort  lands  in  the  Imperial  country.  As  there  is  so  much 
land  that  is  practically  free  from  alkali,  and  that  is  well  adapted  to 
the  cultivation  of  alfalfa,  it  would  be  the  wisest  policy  to  turn  attention 
to  it  first,  leaving  the  Saltwort  lands  to  be  handled  later. 

CROPS  FOR  THE  COLORADO  DELTA  IN  THE  SALTON  BASIN. 

In  experimenting  in  a  new  country  and  with  new  conditions,  it 
is  wise  to  try  first  mainly  those  things  which  are  most  likely  to  be 
successful,  at  the  same  time  neglecting  no  opportunity  to  try  other 
things  on  a  smaller  scale.  On  account  of  the  nature  of  the  soil  and 
climate  and  the  situation  of  the  valley,  it  is  probable  that  the 
Colorado  Delta  will  have  its  greatest  development  in  the  line  of  stock- 


raising  and  dairying.  Nevertheless,  the  growing  of  certain  frnits  for 
the  early  markets  of  Chicago  and  the  East  should  not  be  overlooked, 
particularly  in  the  line  of  the  production  of  cantaloupes,  watermelons, 
certain  classes  of  grapes  (particularly  the  Thompson  seedless),  figs, 
and  dates. 

Alfalfa,  barley,  the  sorghums,  stock,  dairy  products,  honey,  sugar- 
beets,  the  fruits  above  mentioned,  and  possibly  cotton  and  some  of  the 
cereals  are  likely  to  be  the  staple  products  of  the  delta.  Sugar  cane, 
oats,  rice,  corn,  hemp,  flax,  and  most  of  the  fruits  are  not  likely  to  suc- 
ceed. The  Sisal  hemp  plant  should  be  tried;  it  is  more  likely  to  suc- 
ceed on  the  mesa  lands  than  on  the  alluvial  plain. 

METHOD    OF    TREATMENT. 

Fall-sowing  should  be  practised  wherever  possible,  except  in  the 
case  of  crops  susceptible  to  low  temperatures,  such  as  corn  and  teosinte. 
Experience  has  already  shown  that  barley  and  wheat  thrive  admirably 
when  sown  by  the  middle  of  September.  Late  sowing  will,  in  the 
case  of  such  crops,  be  likely  to  result  in  stunted  growth,  and  possibly 
in  entire  lack  of  development.  By  early  sowing  it  will  also  be  possible 
to  secure  an  early  market  in  many  cases. 

BARLEY. 

When  sown  by  the  middle  of  September,  barley  near  Calexico  has 
made  a  growth  of  three  and  one-half  to  four  feet  and  headed  out  by 
the.  last  of  March;  it  stools  out  remarkably,  producing  from  seventy  to 
ninety  stems  from  a  single  root-stock.  Attention  might  be  given  to 
some  of  the  fine  Bavarian  brewing  barleys  recently  introduced  by  the 
U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  for  which  there  may  be  a  good 
demand  in  the  principal  brewing  centers,  just  as  there  is  for  Oregon 
barley,  if  they  can  be  grown  satisfactorily  in  this  region. 

ALFALFA . 

In  preparing  the  ground  for  alfalfa  it  is  very  important  not  to 
flood  the  land  after  sowing,  until  the  plants  have  covered  the  ground 
well,  otherwise  a  hard  crust  is  formed  through  which  it  is  almost 
impossible  for  the  seedlings  to  break.  The  land  should  be  well  irrigated 
before  sowing,  preferably  twice;  then  plowed  as  soon  as  the  surface  is 
sufficiently  dry,  and  harrowed  to  a  fine  tilth,  in  which  the  seed  should 
be  sown  and  left  to  take  care  of  itself  till  well  up.  There  will  be 
enough  moisture  retained  in  the  soil  to  provide  a  good  stand  in  this 
way,  without  danger  of  caking  the  surface  or  scalding  the  seedlings, 
or  causing  a  condensation  of  salts.  Alfalfa  will  do  best  in  the  lighter, 
loamy  soils.     It  is  hard  to  start  alfalfa  in  soils  of  .2  to  A  %  of  salts; 


BEETS. 

Beets  should  do  well  as  a  winter  crop  on  the  lighter,  sandy  soils. 
It  is  not  likely  that  sugar  beets  can  be  profitably  grown  on  the  heavier 
soils,  as  the  sugar  content  and  purity  coefficients  are  likely  to  be  low. 

The  Mangold  Wurzel  (var.  rapaj  is  a  valuable  cattle  food,  but  is 
not  likely  to  stand  the  summer  heat;  it  should  be  tried  as  a  winter 
crop  for  summer  feeding,  as  an  addition  to  the  alfalfa  ration. 

AUSTRALIAN   SALT-BUSH. 

Australian  Salt-bush  ( Atriplex  semibaccataj  can  be  grown  as  a 
forage  plant  on  all  lands  which  are  too  saline  to  raise  alfalfa  and  other 
crops.  Some  care  must  be  exercised  in  sowing  the  seed,  in  order  to 
produce  a  good  stand,  and  a  bulletin  and  circular  giving  a  full  account 
of  the  plant,  with  instructions  as  to  sowing,  can  be  had  on  application 
to  the  Director,  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  Berkeley,  Cal. 

THE    SORGHUMS. 

It  is  probable  that  all  of  the  Sorghum  races,  both  saccharine  and 
non-saccharine,  will  thrive,  and  will  prove  important  forage  crops, 
as  they  are  in  Northeastern  Texas.  The  Sorghums  include  not  only 
Sorghum,  but  also  Kaffir  corn,  Jerusalem  corn,  Egyptian  corn,  Durra, 
Millo  maize,  Broom  corn  and  Guinea  corn. 

Four  crops  of  Jerusalem  corn  have  been  obtained  at  Indio  from  a 
single  sowing.  This  variety  is  said  to  be  rather  more  prolific  than 
Egyptian  corn,  though  both  thrive  well,  there  and  at  Calexico. 

On  account  of  the  scarcity  of  Sorghum  seed  in  the  market  and  its 
high  price,  it  might  be  profitable  to  raise  it  for  seed  as  well  as  for 
forage . 

CORN. 

Corn  is  sensitive  to  alkali  and  is  not  likely  to  thrive  in  soils 
containing  more  than  .2%  of  salts.  It  is  probable  that  Teosinte  is 
equally  sensitive.  Both  should  be  tried  as  summer  crops,  as  they 
will  not  tolerate  low  winter  temperatures. 

FIGS. 

The  Smyrna  fig  industry  has  now  been  placed  on  what  seems  to  be 
a  thorough^  firm  basis,  and  the  quality  of  the  California  product  is 
superior  to  that  of  the  imported  article.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  in 
1900  we  imported  8,812,481  pounds  of  dried  figs,  valued  at  $513,895, 
there  would  seem  to  be  a  market  for  all  the  Smyrnas  we  can  produce. 
The  area  over  which  the  Smyrna  fig  can  be  satisfactorily  cultivated  is 
so  limited  that  the  likelihood  of  severe  competition  is  reduced.  The 
successful  caprification  of  the  flowers  and  handling  of  the  crop  are  not 
difficult,  although  they  require  care  and  skill,  but  not  more  than  is 


required  in  the  case  of  many  of  our  special  crops,  while  the  prospects 
for  good  returns  and  good  markets  are  much  greater  than  in  the  case 
of  cotton  and  sugar  cane.  Figs  thrive  at  Indio,  and  should  be  thor- 
oughly tested  at  Calexico  and  Imperial,  particularly  the  Smyrna 
varieties,  together  with  the  necessary  capri-figs.  Some  attention 
should  also  be  given  to  the  raising  of  the  finest  varieties  of  table  figs, 
with  a  view  to  catching  an  early  market.  These  should  be  carefully 
experimented  with,  however,  before  attempting  to  launch  out 
extensively;  it  is  better  to  make  haste  slowly  in  such  matters. 

A  fully  illustrated  account  of  the  Smyrna  fig  industry  and  the 
process  of  caprification  is  contained  in  the  Yearbook  of  the  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1900. 

DATES. 

The  Colorado  Desert  is  one  of  the  few  places  in  the  United  States 
where  the  Date  palm  is  likely  to  grow  to  perfection.  At  Indio  Mr. 
G.  W.  Durbrow  now  has  a  number  of  young  date  palms,  four 
years  old  from  the  seed,  which  are  six  feet  high.  The  Date  should  be 
raised  from  suckers  of  high-grade  trees  in  preference  to  raising  it  from 
seed,  as  seedlings  are  apt  to  deteriorate;  care  must  be  taken  to  secure 
both  male  and  female  trees.  A  fully  illustrated  account  of  the  Date 
industry  is  contained  in  the  Yearbook  of  the  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  for  1900.  In  this  article  we  find  the  following 
note:  "The  value  of  the  dates  imported  into  the  United  States, 
alone,  averaged  for  the  ten  years  ending  June  30,  1900,  $402,762  per 
annum,  as  appraised  at  the  exporting  point.  The  real  value  when 
received  at  the  American  port  was  doubtless  50  per  cent  greater,  or 
$600,000  a  year,  an  amount  now  exceeded  only  by  the  imports  of  two 
other  dried  fruits — Zante  currants  and  Smyrna  figs." 

TREES  FOR  TIMBER,  SHADE,  AND  FUEL. 

A  species  of  Cottonwood  (Populus)  from  the  Colorado  bottoms 
and  another  species  from  the  vicinity  of  Colton  have  been  used  at 
Indio  with  success  on  account  of  the  rapidity  of  their  growth  and  the 
good  shade  they  afford.  They  are  objected  to  on  two  counts,  how- 
ever: first,  the  quantity  of  "cotton"  which  they  shed,  and,  second, 
the  poor  quality  of  the  wood  for  fuel  and  other  purposes.  The  first 
difficulty  can  be  obviated  by  propagating  only  from  poles  or  cuttings 
of  male  trees,  which  do  not  produce  cotton;  the  second,  only  by 
planting  some  other  kind  of  tree. 

Eucalypts.  Some  settlers  have  already  invested  in  seedling  Blue 
Gums  (Eucalyptus  globulus).  This  species  is  entirely  unsuited  to  the 
climatic  conditions  of  the  region.  It  will  not  stand  either  the  low 
winter  temperature  or  the  dry  heat  of  summer. 


The  true  Red  Gum  (Eucalyptus  rostrata) ,  the  Manna  Gum  (Euca- 
lyptus viminalis) ,  and  the  Yate  (Eucalyptus  cornuta)  are  likely  to 
succeed,  and  are  hardwood  trees  of  rapid  growth.  The  Red  Gum 
produces  a  strong,  hard,  heavy  and  extremely  durable  wood,  suitable 
for  fence  posts,  piles,  and  railroad  ties,  and  said  to  make  a  better  fuel 
than  that  of  the  Blue  Gum.  The  wood  of  the  Manna  Gum  is  not  as 
strong  as  that  of  many  other  species,  but  is  frequently  employed  for 
shingles,  fence  rails,  and  ordinary  building  purposes.  The  Yate 
yields  a  hard,  tough,  and  elastic  wood,  suitable  for  shafts  and  frames 
of  carts,  and  considered  equal  to  ash. 

The  Mesquit  is  so  thoroughly  adapted  to  the  climatic  and  soil 
conditions  of  the  region  that  it  might  be  grown  in  small  shelter  blocks 
around  the  house,  as  a  windbreak  and  to  furnish  fuel,  and  shelter  and 
feed  for  hogs  and  cattle.  It  grows  very  readily  from  seed,  often 
coming  up  as  a  volunteer  on  irrigated  land  and  the  banks  of  ditches, 
and  making  a  growth  of  from  three  to  four  feet  in  a  year  with  a 
good  supply  of  water;  under  favorable  conditions  it  makes  a  tree  fifty 
feet  in  height,  with  a  trunk  three  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base. 

Both  the  native  Washington  palm  and  the  true  Date  palm  can  be 
grown  for  ornament  in  almost  any  soil  in  the  region. 

In  conclusion,  the  writer  would  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  in 
view  of  the  vast  area  of  land,  about  lj  million  acres,  of  which  some 
160,000  acres  has  already  been  taken  up,  being  brought  under 
irrigation,  the  large  number  of  families  already  settled  upon  this  land, 
the  peculiarities  of  the  soil  and  climate  of  the  region,  differing  entirely 
from  any  other  region  of  the  State,  and  largely  different  from  any- 
thing else  in  the  United  States,  that  it  would  be  of  immense  value  to 
the  settlers  in  the  region,  as  well  as  of  great  scientific  value,  to  have 
a  State  Experiment  Station  established,  preferably  in  the  vicinity  of 
Calexico,  and  under  the  direction  of  this  Station,  where  practical 
experiments  could  be  carried  on,  illustrating  the  best  methods  of 
treating  the  soil  and  demonstrating  what  crops  can  be  grown  and  how 
they  should  be  handled. 

A  local  station,  situated  on  average  land,  placed  on  a  permanent 
basis  and  with  adequate  income,  would  be  an  object  lesson  to  the 
farmer  of  what  can  be  accomplished  by  the  best  methods  of  farming. 
It  would  cost  at  least  $3000  to  establish  and  equip  such  a  station,  and 
about  $2500  per  annum  to  maintain  it. 

Berkeley,  April,  1902. 


